Family of three wearing matching family shirts with name embroidered on them by Nicole Hawkins Photography. matching family shirts #NicoleHawkinsPhotography #NicoleHawkinsFamily #Newborns #InHomeNewborns #NicoleHawkinsNewborns #NJnewborns #NYnewborn

Sam’s newborn session in her Maplewood, New Jersey home was full of joy, love, and laughter. I remember taking Sam’s mom, Mallory’s, maternity photos and how excited both mom and dad were to meet their little girl. Mama sweetly refers to baby Sam as her princess. This family has a beautiful style that is reflected so well in their home. The walls are covered in artwork that they have commissioned from artists that they know. My personal favorite is the custom paintings above the baby's crib and the master bed. They came to me looking for artistic newborn portraits and family photos that they could cherish.

Sam’s dad is a builder for the Jim Henson Company. He was very comfortable in front of the camera, and his great sense of humor shone through in the portraits. Mom made the family matching embroidered tops to commemorate a sweet inside joke. She had designed Sam’s nursery so beautifully. The nursery was filled with natural light and covered in soft creams and pastels. I knew that this would be the perfect setting for the artistic portraits they were hoping for.

Mom had one of my preferred hair stylists come to her home prior to the session to do her hair. I highly encourage my clients to have an artist come to them so they can save time and stress traveling to and from a salon. I have my list of preferred artists, but I am always open to my clients using someone that they are more comfortable with, too. Mallory's gorgeous, vibrant hair and bright red lipstick popped against the dress that she wore for these newborn photos; I was so happy to bring multiple options to her home. I brought a simple white Rachel Pally dress for mom to wear. The classic simplicity of mom’s dress allowed the focus to remain on the details of the session, such as baby Sam, the loving, fun vibes, and what it looked like to welcome Sam into their home.

I had so much fun working with this family again. Their style and sense of humor make their sessions so enjoyable. If you want to see more of baby Sam, here is her 6-month milestone session on the blog.